These are poems, stories, and personal commentaries about whatever I am going through in my life at the time. Please feel free to comment on anything that you read, as I love to hear from my readers. All written by Writer M Ray Holloway Jr.

I got a text from my son at 8:45 this morning; that's 7:45 where he lives, so I was impressed that he thought of me so early in the...

Friday, June 10, 2016

Guest Blog Post: Missy Sheldrake

I wanted to take just a moment to share with my followers about a talented young writer and artist. Her illustrations are incredible, making for some of the most beautiful covers that I have ever seen. I was blessed to have her help me with my "Deathburger Saga" cover, but she is far more talented than that cover showed. I have enjoyed reading the first of her "The Keepers of the Wellsprings" series, and find her writing to be vividly descriptive, inspiring my imagination to the point where I feel like I am actually there in the story, standing alongside the characters. I am such a slow reader that it is taking me a while to get through more than the first book, but I look forward excitedly to reading all of the books. See her books and their descriptions below as described by Missy Sheldrake.

The
Keepers of the Wellsprings Series

I’m
excited to announce that the third book in the Keepers of the
Wellsprings series, Call
of Brindelier,
is now available on Amazon! If you haven’t read the previous books
yet, read on for a super-quick crash course.

When
I started writing this series, I really wanted to tell a story that
was rich with fantasy, but not overly dark or mired with war and
violence. I wanted to show the light side of fantasy: the cheerful,
magical, uplifting side which I always drink up whenever it emerges
in a story, and which always seems to be so fleeting in fantasy
tales. I wanted to tell a story that would capture the hearts of
young and old alike. Don’t get me wrong, my books aren’t void of
conflict and evil. They tell of uncomfortable moments. There is
violence and wickedness, but it’s those moments in my stories which
are the fleeting ones. In the pages of my books, you will find
fairies, Mages, Paladins, Elves, Dreamwalkers, Princes and
Princesses, and even dragons. You’ll travel through a world rich
with magic and wonder.

In Call
of Kythshire,
you’ll learn all about Cerion, a seaside kingdom which has
celebrated peace for over a century. You’ll meet His Majesty’s
Elite, a guild that is the right hand adventuring team of King Tirnon
Plethore, and you’ll join Azi Hammerfel, a young squire who has
grown up within the guild’s halls, through disappointments and
triumphs. By her side is Rian, her childhood friend, an Apprentice of
the Mage Academy. You’ll meet Flit, a fairy from Kythshire, who is
as tricky as any fairy you might imagine, but has a depth of
character and a sense of purpose uncommon for a typical fairy. You’ll
see her world unfold, and feel the evil threat of Sorcery that looms,
waiting to destroy it. You’ll learn a little about the Wellsprings,
but not too much, for their existence and workings are a
well-protected secret. (Click
here to read an excerpt from Call
of Kythshire.)

In
Call
of Sunteri,
you’ll meet the strong-willed slave boy, Tib, who makes his first
appearance as he escapes from the grips of Sorcery in the desert
continent of Sunteri. He has help crossing the vast oceans to reach
Cerion, but he doesn’t realize it at first. A mysterious being
speaks to his mind, controlling his thoughts and making suggestions
to ensure his own survival. In the meantime, Azi has been given the
task of escorting the Prince of Cerion and his wife-with-child to the
lakeside Kordelya Castle as the prince faces suspicion and ridicule
after the events of Call
of Kythshire.
But a darker force emerges from the Dreaming, whose wicked intent is
to use any means necessary to escape its prison and claim the magic
of the Wellsprings for his own. In this book, you’ll see the
devastating effects of the overuse of magic, and what it does to the
Wellsprings and the creatures who thrive around them. (Click
here to read an excerpt from Call
of Sunteri.)

In
Call
of Brindelier,
a dark force looms, more powerful and destructive than any threat Azi
and her guild have yet faced. You’ll follow Celli, a scrappy street
fighter, as she is enticed into the grips of a powerful Sorcerer.
You’ll watch Tib come into his own as he sneaks through the streets
of Cerion, uncovering the darkness while also working on a mysterious
project. You’ll follow Azi on a quest set by Princess Margary to
find proof of Brindelier, a city in the clouds which is the key to
all of the Wellsprings in the Known Lands. But Margy is not the only
one interested in Brindelier. A dark force has been gathering, poised
to claim it for their own. Control over the Wellsprings hangs in the
balance. (Click
here to read an excerpt from Call
of Brindelier.)

This
series is appropriate for all ages, but I recommend 13 and up due to
some violent themes. There is no sex, swearing, or excessively
graphic violence in the Keepers of the Wellsprings. Throughout the
series, you’ll encounter daring sword fights, violent magical
moments, and a few quick deaths.

Call
of Brindelier,
the third book in the Keepers of the Wellsprings series, is now
available on Amazon. This weekend, I’m offering book one of
the series, Call
of Kythshire,
for free, and book two, Call
of Sunteri,
for just 99 cents. Click
here to download your ebooks while they’re on sale!